The psychospiritual care matrix: a new paradigm for hospice care giving

In a changing health care environment, Hospice is having to more carefully set forth its mission and its identity. This is causing its interdisciplinary practitioners (medical, psychosocial, spiritual) to focus on what it is they have in common, i.e. on what binds them together as a unique health care delivery system. This article suggests the common ground is that all hospice practitioners, irrespective of their clinical specialty, are psychospiritual care givers, providing basic psychological guidance and spiritual encouragement to patients and families. It sets forth a paradigm--the psychospiritual care matrix--in which all clinical practitioners can locate themselves and by which all can gain a greater clarity with respect to the individual care they provide and the character of their care with respect to that of their co-clinicians.